Chronomètre FB RS

Only 20 examples of the new Régulateur Squelette movement will be produced and housed in a choice of round or octagonal cases. The calibre FB-T.FC-RS with tourbillon and fusee-and-chain transmission thus heralds a new approach for Chronométrie Ferdinand Berthoud, enabling collectors to appreciate the rarity of precision mechanics while choosing the case design that suits them best.

It would have been inconceivable, almost three centuries ago, for someone to acquire a pocket watch or clock not entirely made to match one’s personal taste. Over time, this consideration gradually ebbed away, replaced by standardisation as watches became widely distributed products. Nonetheless, this approach, which enabled watchmaking to flourish in an unprecedented way, does not fully correspond to the spirit of Chronométrie Ferdinand Berthoud.

A Limited-Edition Movement

In a bid to strengthen ties with the original inspiration of its founder, Ferdinand Berthoud (1727 – 1807), the Manufacture bearing his name is introducing an evolved version of its business model: as of now, Chronométrie Ferdinand Berthoud will communicate the total number of units for each in-house-made calibre.

“Our primary objective is to safeguard collectors’ interests,” explains Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, President of Chronométrie Ferdinand Berthoud. “By explicitly specifying a pre-determined number of movements, we engage in a fully transparent procedure. Collectors are as sensitive to the rarity of their timepiece as they are to that of the calibre powering it. By communicating about both, we are placing watch movements and customers firmly front and centre, thus preserving the integrity of their collection.”